BurkeMobile

Photo: Burke Museum
Photo: Burke Museum

BurkeMobile programs bring the museum to you!

Burke educators travel with real collections to visit schools across Washington state, transforming your school or library into a pop-up museum. With facilitated activities designed for learners of all ages, our programs support classroom curriculum and give your students an unforgettable experience!


If you are interested in hosting a BurkeMobile visit to your school or organization, please complete our waitlist form.

Completing the waitlist form does not guarantee we will be able to accommodate your request. We prioritize schools and organizations who qualify for financial assistance and/or are geographically further from the Burke Museum.

BurkeMobile Waitlist

 

BurkeMobile is available to the counties listed below for the upcoming 2024–2025 school year:

Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, Yakima

map of washington state with counties labeled

 

Formats

Early Learner Programs

Early Learner Programs are designed for children in preschool (ages 3 and up) to Grade 1. Taught by Burke educators, these classroom-based lessons include imaginative play and hands-on interactions with real museum collections.

Formats

Mini Museum Programs

Mini Museum Programs are designed for all ages and offer an opportunity to get up-close with specimens, fossils and pieces that represent different areas of the Burke’s collections. Interpreted by Burke educators, these interactive exhibits offer opportunities to learn about a variety of natural history and cultural topics. Book a program for an In-School Experience or a Community Event.

In-School Experience

3–6 hour program for groups/classes of students. Program time is divided into 45-minute rotations per group.

Community Event

2–3 hour drop-in style program at a library or family night.

 

a boy plays with toy spiders

Financial Assistance

Our generous donors make it possible for Burke Education to offer financial assistance to eligible schools, programs and families to ensure no child is turned away because of financial limitations.

Questions & Answers

We've compiled some of the most common questions about BurkeMobile visits. Have another question that you need help with? Contact us. Please also refer to the BurkeMobile Terms & Conditions (PDF) for more information.

The online waitlist form will ask for your contact information , details about your organization and participants, and which type of BurkeMobile program you are interested in. This information provides an overview for our team to assess our capacity and availability. If we are able to accommodate a program request from the waitlist, we will reach back out to you for the additional information needed to finalize your reservation. BurkeMobile programs can be booked a minimum of three weeks in advance.

Please be aware that filling out this form does not guarantee we will be able to accommodate your request. We process waitlist requests on a rolling basis throughout the school year, and prioritize schools and organizations who qualify for financial assistance and/or are geographically further from the Burke.

Early Learners Programs accommodate a maximum of 24 students per 45-minute lesson. A maximum of six (6) back-to-back lessons can be booked in a single day.

Each Mini Museum Program can be booked as an In-School Experience or a Community Event such as a library program or a family night. Only one Mini Museum program can be booked per visit.

The In-School Experience provides school classes a structured exploration of the Mini Museum, facilitated by Burke educators. The length of time the Mini Museum will run depends on the number of students participating. Program time is broken into 45-minute exploration blocks for each class or group of students visiting the Mini Museum. A maximum of six (6) exploration blocks can be scheduled in a day. 

The Community Event provides participants a drop-in style exploration of the Mini Museum for 2-3 hours and the cost is dependent on the length of time. Burke educators will be present to help participants engage with the exhibits. BurkeMobile has no limit on the number of people that can participate in the program during the 2-3 hour time period. Please keep in mind the restrictions on total occupancy for your particular space.

Early Learners programs require a designated room with tables, chairs, and a carpet or storytelling area.

Mini Museum programs require: 

  • A dedicated space for the full duration of the program
  • Eight (8) 6-foot tables (minimum)
  • At least 600 square feet of open space
  • Access to an electrical outlet

Pricing for BurkeMobile programs is based on location and number of participants. Below are pricing ranges by region and program type: 

In King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties:

  • Early Learners: $350 – $600
  • Mini Museum: $500 – $1,200

In all other counties (includes overnight travel):

  • Early Learners: $850 – $1,250
  • Mini Museum: $900 – $3,100

For an exact quote prior to making a reservation, please Contact us

Yes! Our generous donors make it possible for us to offer financial assistance to schools and programs across the state.

To apply, please select ‘Yes’ and fill out the section titled 'Financial Assistance Request?’ in the BurkeMobile Waitlist Request Form.

Prior to creating a schedule, Burke staff will inform the client of the earliest possible program start time. This will depend on the amount of time required for travel and setup. BurkeMobile educators will need to arrive earlier than the program start time to set up. Set-up time required depends on the type of program, and will be communicated prior to your program date.

 

If you need to change or cancel a reservation, please email burked@uw.edu as soon as possible. 

Cancellations must be made a minimum of two weeks before the BurkeMobile visit for a refund. Cancellations made with less than two weeks’ notice will be charged the full fee.

 

Have a Question? 

Burke Education is here to help.

Contact Us

Thank You

BurkeMobile Program Sponsors